Baykal: Government Made A Secret Agreement With U.S.

ANKARA - Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal asserted on Tuesday that the government made a secret agreement with the U.S. on February 8 and according to that agreement, there was the issue of U.S.'s setting up a new base in Turkey and the limits of Turkey's entering Northern Iraq.
Speaking in the closed part of the CHP parliamentary group meeting, Baykal claimed that the government signed an agreement with the U.S. on February 8 following the adoption of the first motion on Feb. 6.
''While that agreement was signed, I suppose they thought that the second motion would also be adopted on February 18. I think a military cooperation agreement was prepared,'' Baykal said. Baykal noted that the legal decision that would constitute the basis of this military cooperation document could not be the first parliamentary motion, adding ''because the first motion is the motion that permits renovation work in the bases. But the agreement signed on Feb. 8 is probably a document that foresees solution of problems for smooth implementation of the decision expected to be adopted on Feb. 18. But the things didn't go as planned. The issue was not taken up on Feb. 18 and it was rejected on March 1. But now an agreement which takes basis the studies undertaken by assuming that the second motion would be adopted on Feb. 18 has been put into practice. This can't be accepted.''
Baykal said that setting up new bases in Mardin and Gaziantep was on the agenda, adding that ''setting up bases is not an issue which will be decided by the government on its own because base means accepting a regulation that foresees deployment of 'soldiers.' Our Constitution is very clear. The parliament gives decision about deployment of foreign soldiers in Turkey and sending of Turkish soldiers abroad. Thus, we can't accept the government's giving a decision about formation of a base in Mardin. The parliamentary investigation commission has to clarify this issue. There is no opportunity for opening base within the scope of the first motion.''
BAYKAL: TURKEY IS NOT A BANANA REPUBLIC
Baykal said that the parliament didn't approve deployment of foreign soldiers in Turkey and their launching an operation to another country from these territories.
Despite that, the activities within the scope of the first motion were speeded up, Baykal commented adding ''Turkey is not a 'Banana Republic.' Turkey should not be a country which will be used by others.''
Baykal said that a parliamentary investigation has to be opened regarding the concerns that the activities carried out within the scope of the first motion went beyond the scope of that motion.
Baykal said that the picture that would come out in the end of a possible war against Iraq would be one with many difficulties for Turkey.
Baykal said that the activities were speeded up within the scope of the first motion although they should not because the second motion was rejected by the parliament. ''The use of the first motion in this way means that the government promised some persons that the second motion would be definitely be adopted..,'' Baykal said. He stressed that if there was no promise made on this issue, then the government had to explain why the activities within the scope of the first motion were permitted.
''Turkey can make cooperation with the U.S. about the Iraqi issue or not. If it makes cooperation, it should do it in the right way. If you say that this will be to the advantage of Turkey, you should tell it honestly and do its requirements,'' Baykal said.
''We submit a parliamentary investigation motion to the Parliament Speaker's Office today to clarify the issue,'' he noted.
BAYKAL: BUDGET BRINGS GREAT BURDEN ON PEOPLE
Referring to the 2003 Budget and the Economic Measures Package in the party group meeting, Baykal said that ''the fact that the AK Party government pursues a policy which oppresses the middle class and farmers was also revealed by the assessment of the World Bank. ''The government is at the point of getting social justice course from the World Bank, and it deserves that.''
Defending the view that the budget was far from contributing to the solution of the problems of the country, Baykal said that ''this budget brings heavy burden on the people.'' Baykal claimed that the Economic Measures Package brought a new burden of 15.7 quadrillion liras to the shoulder of the people, adding that the assistance to agricultural support was decreased by 73 trillion liras in the budget.
''This clearly shows the regard of the government about farmers. We see that when World Bank's Representative to Turkey Chhibber drew attention to these issues, did the end of the world come? The AK Party government is even behind the World Bank in respect of social justice,'' Baykal said.
Meanwhile CHP leader Deniz Baykal told the closed session of the party group meeting that probably the United States would stage an operation against Iraq on March 16-17. ''This date is the 1323rd anniversary of Karbala, we hope the Middle East won't face such a new Karbala incident again.''
BAYKAL: POLITICAL DISTORTION ENDS WITH SIIRT BY-ELECTIONS
Baykal said on Tuesday that political distortion ended with the by-elections held in southeastern Siirt province on March 9.
Baykal said, ''now, who is responsible for what will clearly be revealed.''
Baykal noted that this week's parliamentary work would be determining for the new period Turkey was entering.
''Leader of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) will enter the parliament as a deputy after this by-elections and he can form the government. Thus, the environment which occurred after November 3 elections will be corrected. We, as the CHP, has always expressed our determination to use freedoms till the very end and done what is necessary,'' Baykal said.
Baykal added, ''political distortion ended with the by-elections held on Sunday. Now, who will do what and who is responsible for what will clearly be revealed.''
(BRC-AÖ- ÖS-AO-UK) 11.03.2003